The Catcher in the Rye Story of a Troubled Teen - 956 Words

J.D. Salingers novel, The Catcher In The Rye, attempts to show the reader the life of a regular boy with troubles on his mind. The rich and troubled Holden Caufield is that boy. His parents are quite wealthy and want Holden to be successful in life as well, but they do not nurture Holden with the amount of love that is necessary. Holden feels the absence of love, which causes him to suffer a variety of emotional problems. Holden needs direction in his life because he constantly struggles to find the meaning of life on his own. Schools kick him out because he is not able to focus with all these issues in his life. With all this pressure he faces, Holden escapes from consciousness in what appears to be a psychological defect, but is just†¦show more content†¦I was wondering if it would be frozen over when I got home, and if it was, where did the ducks go. I was wondering where the ducks went when the lagoon got all icy and frozen over. I wondered if some guy came in a truck an d took them away to a zoo or something. Or if they just flew away† (Salinger 13). Holden is not able to gain a consolidated focus in life, and every time someone offers to help he pushes him or her away. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Phoebe is the only person that Holden will listen to and this saves him. Their little talk in Phoebe’s bedroom sets his mind straight. Holden listens to every one of her words and takes them all into account. She tells Holden that he does not like anything and that he is constantly messing up his life. Phoebe forces her brother to think about his actions as she waits for her answer. He tells her how he likes Allie, but she is quick to say that he is dead. This is a significant answer because Holden realizes for the first time that his brother is truly dead and that he must move on. After he leaves the house and goes outside the house he feels the awkward falling sense. â€Å"Then all of a sudden, something very spooky started happening. Every time I came to the end of a block and stepped off the goddam curb, I had this feeling that I’d never get to the other side of the street. I thought I’d just go down, d own,Show MoreRelatedAnalysis of A Catcher In the Ryes Holden Caulfield: Enemy of Himself1686 Words   |  7 PagesJerome David Salinger’s only novel, The Catcher in the Rye, is based on the life events shaping main character, Holden Caulfield, into the troubled teen that is telling the story in 1950. The theme of the story is one of emotional disconnection felt by the alienated teenagers of this time period. The quote, â€Å" I didn’t know anyone there that was splendid and clear thinking and all† (Salinger 4) sets the tone that Holden cannot find a connection with anyone around him and that he is on a lonely endeavorRead MoreAn Analysis of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye1223 Words   |  5 PagesIn J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is portrayed as a young, troubled individual. He tells us his story from the mental institution where he is currently residing. Holden is a 16 year old going through many different adol escent changes. He is expelled from his prep school for flunking too many subjects. He drinks, smokes, sees a prostitute, is punched by her pimp, goes on dates, spends a great deal of time in the park, and really does not do a great deal else. HoldenRead MoreSalinger s The Catcher s The Rye 1310 Words   |  6 Pagesphones, laptops, apple watches, flat screen TV’s, electric cars, and so much more exist now. However, there are a few aspects of life that are timeless. Even today, teens struggle with relationships, the quest to find out who they truly are, and the pressure to be the best at everything they do. I believe that The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger is relevant because in today’s society the younger generation struggles with many of the same issues Holden Caulfield struggled with. Even though Holden’sRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1551 Words   |  7 PagesAmerican novels such as the The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath, Of M ice and Men, and The Catcher in the Rye, there is now a universal definition for all Americans. An American is someone who persistently seeks completion of an objective. Americans are portrayed as persistent individuals who strive to complete a goal. In Fitzgerald s great American Classic, The Great Gatsby, the plot is centered around a troubled young man named Jay Gatsby who wants to re-establish his long-lost romantic relationshipRead MoreThe Catcher in the Rye: Holden Caulfields Mental Breakdown1384 Words   |  6 PagesJ.D. Salinger s The Catcher in the Rye portrays a troubled teen in New York City. Over the few days the novel depicts, the boy displays his critical and unhealthy mindset. Eventually he has a mental breakdown. Through psychoanalysis of Holden Caulfield, one may suggest that Allie s death, social development, and an identity crisis are large contributing factors in Holden s mental breakdown. Allie Caulfield is an important person to Holden and his death affects him greatly. In response to hisRead MoreA Book Review on The Catcher in the Rye Essay787 Words   |  4 PagesA Book Review on The Catcher in the Rye This book is about a few days in the life of Holden Caulfield, At the beginning of the book Holden is expelled from his private school, Pency. This is just one of many schools he has been expelled from. Holden decides that, as the school term is about to break up, he would go to New York City for a few days until he is expected home. So off he sets one night wearing his hunting hat that Holden loves because it represents independenceRead MoreHolden Is Going Through Teenage Hood1327 Words   |  6 Pagespretend to be something other them self. Holden sees them has these people portray to the world an image. There are obvious signs that Holden seems to be troubled and unreliable. What is that Holden is running away from is it the people around, is it the materialistic society, what is he trying to get rid off. The main character in Catcher in the rye Holden is at a position where he is trying to understand the world around. Where he is concerned with the people of being materialistic. And the fact thatRead MoreAngel Simon. Mrs Kehrmeyer. Ap English. 2 March 2017. The1086 Words   |  5 PagesAngel Simon Mrs Kehrmeyer AP English 2 March 2017 The Island of Isolation Holden Caulfield, the main protagonist in J.D. Salinger s The Catcher in the Rye, illustrates the endless struggle of becoming an adult, without actually growing up. Psychoanalytical theory provides a closer lense into the character development of sixteen year Holden Caulfield, a six foot two grey haired child who’s afraid to grow up and face the problems of an inevitable reality. There’s many factors that contribute toRead MoreEmotional Damage, Hidden Truths, and Accepting Responsibility in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye 1996 Words   |  8 PagesEmotional Damage, Hidden Truths, and Accepting Responsibility in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye When one finds themselves in a reader’s position, they search for things in the novel that they can relate to. J. D. Salinger wrote a story that contained countless topics that people, past, present and future, can relate to in several ways. The novel follows the story of a troubled boy named Holden who leaves school due to his poor academic performance, an altercation with his roommate, and complicationsRead MoreComparative Study of Death of a Salesman and The Catcher in the Rye1981 Words   |  8 Pagesthere was little concern for the welfare of the minority and no apprehension that ones success could lead to the downfall of another. ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ by J.D Salinger and ‘Death of a Salesman’ by Arthur Miller are both texts that were written throughout this time of social, cultural, spiritual and economic metamorphosis. ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ through the portrayal of Holden Caulfield, explores an individual’s tumultuous tale throughout city living and teenage years of post WW2 America